Method of and apparatus for serving a core



4 c. D. HART- METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR SERVING A CORE Filed May 1'7, 1923 2 Sheets-Sheet l inventor Carl fl Hart WWW (3. D. HART METHOD OF ANDAPPARATUS FOR SERVING A CORE Filed May 17, 1923 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 [mentor CarZflHa/Z I may . 35 flexible tape.

Patented Nov. 29, 1927.

UNITED STATES.

PATENT OFFICE.

CARL DEMPSTER.HART, OF LA GRANGE, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO WESTERN ELECTRIC COMPANY, INCORPORATED, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., A CORPORATION OF YORK.

un'rnon or AND APPARATUS non SERVING a corn.

Application filed May 17, 1923. Serial No. 639,652.

This invention relates to a method of and apparatus for serving a core and moreparticularly to serving a flexible core Wltll a relativel inflexible tape.

It'is equently desirable to apply a relatively inflexible serving upon a flexible core without substantially detracting from the flexibility of the core. In the case of a flexible electrical conductor. covered with a soft vulcanized .sheathing, such as rubber, over which a plurality of relatively inflexible tapes are served in spiral formation to serve either as a protection therefor or as another electrical conductor, it is of advantage to permit the flexing of the composite cable to some extent. However it is necessary to limit the amount which the cable may be flexed to prevent injury to the central conductoror the vulcanized covering therefor,

Furthermore it. isimportant that no undue strains be imposed upon the soft vulcanized rubber sheathing while relatively inflexible tapes are being served thereon.

It is an object of the invention to ap 1y a tape around a core so as to permit the exing of the taped core within predetermined limits.

Another object is to apply to a core a plurality of ta es conforming to the contour of the core an separated by predetermined distances.

Another object is to minimize the localized strains andvpressures imposed upon a core in the application thereto of a relatively in- These and other objects not'specifically mentioned above will clearly appear from the following description and the accompanyin drawings illustrating one embodiment 0 the invention, and in which Fig. 1 shows an elevation, partially in section, of the essentialportionsof the apparatus used in practicing the invention;

Fig. 2 shows a fragmentary end view of the rotating plate member through which 7 *of a forming block 36 the tapes are fed;

Fig. 3 shows anenlarged fragmentary elevation of the devices for forming the 4 shows an end view, partiallyin section, viewed from the dotted line 47-41: of Fig. 3;

- ta%e s and a portion of the taped core;

Fig. 5 shows an enlarged end view of one dotted line 5-5 of Fig. 3; j

of the forming devices viewed from the Figs. 6 to 9 inclusive are sections of the core taken alongthe lines 66, 77, 8-8, and 9-9 respectively of Fig. 1 showing the vaaious steps taken in applying the tapes, an

Fig. 10 is an enlarged section of the completely taped core viewed from the line 16-10 of Fig. 1.

Referring to the drawings in which similar reference characters denote similar parts throughout the various views, a serving head 15 having attached thereto a face plate 16 is rotatably mounted in any suitable manner from the floor or otherwise and adapted to be rotated by any suitable means (not shown) around a centrally located tube 17 A flexible core 18 which may be of a composite type consisting of a central metallic conductor (Fig. 10) surrounded by a plurality of smaller conductors 61, sheathed b' a vulcanized rubber insulation 62, around which a plurality of fabric tapes 63, and a thin flexible metallic tape 64 are wound, may

be drawn through the tube 17 by any suitable means, such as a take-up capstan of any ordinary type (not shown). t diametrically opposite points in the face plate 16 openings 20 and 21 are provided through which relatively inflexible tapes 22 and 23 respectively are fed from ,supply pads (not shown) which may be carried by the rotating head 15. o

Arms 27 and 28 projecting from and suitably attached directly to, as well as braced from the face plate by brackets 25 and 26 respectively, carry at their forward extremities devices 30 and 31 through which the tapes 22 and 23 pass. As shown more in detail in Figs. 3,4, and 5 eachof these devices consists of an ldler roller 32 having a slightly concave surface and secured in a mounting 34 by a screw 33 and placed in spaced opposition to the convex surface v 'suitablyattached to the mounting 34 by a plurality of screws 38. The working clearance between each roller" 32 and the opposing surface of the associated forming block 36 is so adjusted and the devices 30 and 31 are so located that the tape passing therethrough is given a slightly 105 transverse curvature with a permanent set 1 ing an externally tapered end which receives the curved tapes 22 and 23 and directs them to the core 18, passing therethrough.

Suitable die members '42, 43, and 44 hav ing gradually decreasing internal diameters are provided for making the partially formed tapes 22 and 23 conform accurately to the contour of the core without imposing any deleterious strains upon the core, the tape having a permanent set after its emanation from each die. These dies may be of any suitable type having circular openings of gradually decreasing diameters to cause the taped cores to assume in succession the forms illustrated in Figs. 7, 8, and 9. A second serving head supported by a floor bracket is provided for serving over the taped core another tape or ribbon of some suitable fabric impregnated with any usual insulating compound. This head is adapted to be rotated by a pulley 51 engaged by a. belt 52 which maybe operated from any suitable source of power (not shown). A pair of spindles 53 are attached to and carried by a plate member 54 of the head. A pad 56 of the fabric tape 55 is mounted on one of the spindles and the tape is fed therefrom through the guiding fingers 58 on its way to the core. The form of the completely taped core is clearly shown in Fig. 10.

In the operation of the apparatus the core 18 is fed from a supply reel (not shown) through the tubes 17 and 40, the dies 42, 43, and 44, and the central opening of the fabric tape'serving device, and thence secured in some well known manner to a power driven capstan of any. usual type (not shown). The relatively inflexible tapes 22 and 23 of metal or other material are secured tothe core in any manner and the associated serving head is caused to rotate. The core and the tapes 22 and 23 are thus drawn through the dies and the rotating fabric tape serving head where they receive a spiral wrapping of the tape 55.

The devices 30 and 31 so form the tapes 22 and23 that, as they leave the extreme end of the tube 40, they present a slightly concave surface to the cylindrical gore 18 as shown in Fig. 6. Also due to the width of the tape and the location'of the devices 30 the edges of the adjacent tapes are separated by an appreciable predetermined distance. The openin s in the dies 42, 43, and 44 being circular and of gradually decreasing diameter the edges of the tapes 22 and 23 are gradually pressed toward the coreas shown in Figs. 7, '8, and -9 until all points of the outer surfaces of the tapes are equi-distant from the core center; Since the forming action of each die is very small no undue pressures are imposed upon the core thereby. f As the plate 54 is rotated through the action of the belt 52 end the pulley 51, the

impregnated fabric tape 55 is fed through the guiding fingers 58 and is applied to the served tapes 22 and 23 in a spiral fashion with an overlapping lay to producean article having a cross section as shown in Fig. 10.-

It will be noted that the edges of the tapes 22 and 23 neither project into the core underneath nor beyond other portions of the outer surfaces of the tapes. When the taped core is flexed these edges may approach each other until they abut, but. since they are equi-distant from the center of the core there is no tendency for either edge to pass under or over the other. Therefore no further flexing in that direction is permissible, due to the relatively inflexible nature of the tapes. Thus by properly spacing the edges of the tapes the amount of flexure of the taped core may be so limited as to prevent the introduction of any deleterious strains into the core. 7

What is claimed is:

1. The method of serving a core with a metallic tape, which consists in transversely forming the tape with a approach the contour of t e core, applying a concave surface of the formed tape directly to the core, and further transversely forming the-applied tape with a permanent set to conform to the contour of the core.

2. The method of serving a core with a tape, which consists in transversely forming the tape with a permanent set to approach the contour of the core, applying a concave surface of the formed tape directly to the core, and forming the tape in a plurality of successive stages to conform to the contour of the core, the tape having a permanent set after each forming operation.

ermanent set to 3. The method of servin a cylindrical core I with a metallic tape, whic consists in transversely formin the tape with a ermanent,

set about a ra 'us greater than t at of the core, causing contact between the center line of the concave surface of the tape and the core, and then further transversely forming the tape with a permanent set to conform to the contour of the core.

'4. The method of serving a corewith a plurality of tapes, which consists in transversely curving the tapes with permanent sets, and then simultaneously serving the curved tapes in separated relation upon and with a concave surface thereof adjacent the COI'B.

5. The method of serving a cylindrical 1 graduall 15 a core,

the tapes with permanent conform u;

the contour of the core.

6. The method of serving a cylindrical.

core with a tape, which consists in trans- 5 versely'forming the tape with a set to approach the contour of th core, ap-

plying a concave surfaceof the formed tape to the core, and then passing the taped core through a series of 'dles havlng openings of decreasing diameters to tra sversely orm the tape to conform to the c ntour of the core, the tape having a permanent set after its emanationfrom each die.

7. In an apparatusjor serving a ta'pefon means for transversely forming a tape with a permanent set, means for applying a concave surfaceof the formed tape directly. tothe core, and means for further rmanent transversely forming the afiplied tape with a permanentset in aplu'r ty of stages to conform to the contour of the core.

8. In an ap aratus or serving a core,

means "for a p ying ta from a plurality of supplies ereof to t e core-in spaced re- .lation to provide predetermined amounts of clearance between tapes when conformin adjacent edges of the to the contour ofthe core, means for partia lyl forming the tapes transversely before app 'cation to the core givin the tape a permanent set, and means for urther for the applied tapes transversel givingh e tape a permanent set; to con orm to t e contour of the core.

In witness-whereof, I hereunto subscribe my name this 7th da ofMa A, D., 1923. CARL D MPST R HART. 

